Feeding "All" the birds

[columbiacritter]

The wild bird population around here has figured out the chicken run is a great source of snacks. A few of the bolder ones even go throug ht he pop door to hit the feeders in the coop. When we refill the feed bins the extra bits and dust gets tossed out into the grass which brings out the quail.

My husband was watchign all the activity around a feed spill yesterday and commented, "I bet the local birds are healthier and rasing more chicks than ever before."

I laughed. 3 of us on the road all got chickens around the same time so the wild birds have definitely had a big increase in available quality feed.

 

[gritsar]

I know what you mean!
The sparrows and wild finches have discovered my feeder INSIDE the coop!

There's no way to keep them out, since the door has to be left open all day for the hens to get to the nestboxes.
I was hoping my chickens would chase them away, like they do the crows, but no deal.
I thinking of installing a couple of fake owls, but I'm afraid my chickens will be afraid of them.

 

[KareyABohr]

I say let them stay. The fat old sparrows are easy pickings for the redtails and maybe they will keep away from my girls!

 

[columbiacritter]

Quote:
fake owls don't scare the birds after about 2 days, unless they are the expensive kind that move, then they work for about 2 wks.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's kinda what I figured. This morning when I went out to open the coop there was a whole flock of the prettiest little yellow finches waiting for me to open the door so they could have breakfast.

 

[Kim_NC]

I feed the wild birds. We have a whole selection of feeders for them in the front yard. They get BOSS, safflower and thistle seeds. I also put suet out for the woodpeckers and bluebirds. Sometimes I put fruit out for them if we have it - raisins, orange slices, apple or pear slices.

The key is...it's away from the chicken coops and their pastured yards. So, they never bother my flocks and their feed. And we do see hawks come in and snatch up a song bird occassionally ...but I've never had a chicken attacked by a hawk.

The wild birds also leave our fruit trees alone - for the most part, I do have to be quick if I want the wild cherries for jam.

 

[gritsar]

Well I guess turnabout is fair play. There were alot of these beautiful finches around this afternoon. The wild bird feeder was empty and I can't reach it. Filling it is my SO's chore. Since he was napping I took the bag of wild bird feed out and spread some under the tree the feeder is in.
Half hour later all the wild bird feed was gone and my chickens were walking around with some seriously full crops.